Member Spotlight

Haley Whelchel

Business Support Specialist 
Water World-Hyland Hills Parks & Recreation
Federal Heights, Colorado - U.S.A.

Featured in World Waterpark Magazine, October/November 2020

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE? 
I graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in psychology. While in college, I was working as a Wedding and Events Coordinator. Once I graduated, I went into sales & marketing for the hotel industry working with Hilton and Holiday Inn. In 2019, I joined the Water World - Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation District family as the Group Sales Manager.
 
WHAT CERTIFICATION OR LICENSING DO YOU HAVE? 
I am certified in event planning. 

WHAT HONORS, AWARDS OR SPECIAL RECOGNITION HAVE YOU ACHIEVED? 
I have been fortunate enough in my career to receive several accolades including Employee of the Month in 2017; I was also nominated for Employee of the Year. 

WHAT MADE YOU GO INTO THIS FIELD? 
I have always loved event planning which is why I originally went into the hotel industry. When I moved to Colorado, I was looking for something new and different that may be a little more challenging. An opportunity opened up with Water World for Group Sales and I love how unique and exciting the waterpark industry is. 

WHAT ASPECT OF THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY DO YOU LIKE BEST? 
I love the fast-paced environment and getting to work outside. It is very rewarding working with guests from all over the world to put together an unforgettable experience for them. 

WHO HAS MOST INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER? 
There have been so many people who have inspired me, but I would have to say my parents have been the most inspirational. 

WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK
CAREER? 
WHAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR WATERPARK
CAREER? 
I have only been in the waterpark industry since 2019, so I am still fairly new. Being that I am so new, I have not had many challenges yet. I would say the biggest challenge so far has been joining the Water World team in January of 2019 and hav- ing enough time to train and prep for the season opening in May. 

HOW DO YOU KEEP FOCUSED AND MOTIVATED? 
If I am being completely honest, I am somewhat of a squirrel, so I stay focused by making a lot of lists. I love making checklists for everything! I also find that organizing my desk with items in order of importance helps keep me focused and on task. As far as what helps keep me motivated, my coworkers are a huge part of that all throughout the year, but especially during the summer. In the offseason, I stay motivated by recapping the previous season and working on ways to improve the next year. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE WATERPARK INDUSTRY? 
Stay calm and don’t let one rude guest get to you. Have a couple go-to moments of happiness that you can think about when feeling frustrated. Remember to have fun, do the best that you can and be proud of your work. Never stop learning, always be willing to change and adapt, smile regularly and don’t compromise on safety. 

WHAT BOOKS OR PUBLICATIONS DO YOU RELY ON MOST FOR INSPIRATION OR MOTIVATION? 
In college, I read quite a few psychology books on understanding people and body language as well as communication and I found all of them to be very helpful in my work life. I think communication is the key to any situation, so I would rely on any book that talks about how to communicate effectively. I mentioned before that I love checklists, so it’s not surprising that I find The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande to be motivational. The waterpark life can be a crazy one, but this book inspires me to stay focused and organized. Another book that inspired me when it comes to handling tough situations is The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I know the title may sound strange as a book for inspiration and motivation, but you can kind of think of every season at the waterpark like going into a battle. You need discipline, a game plan, confidence in yourself and your team/product and, of course, to know your enemy, or in this case your competition. If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? 
It is so hard to choose just one thing. I love building relationships with the guests and hearing their stories. It is very rewarding to hear about the generations that have visited and worked at the park as well as the impact Water World has on the community. My coworkers are also incredibly wonderful to work with. Everyone is so dedicated and hard working. I could not do my job without them and their amazing support! 
WH AT C AREER OR BUSINESS WOULD YOU CONSIDER IF YOU WERE S TAR TING ALL
OVER AGAIN? 
If I were to start my career over, I would be- come either a family therapist or a lawyer. I studied psychology in college and it is something I am passionate about. I enjoy listening to people and problem solving. I say a lawyer as well because I think my friends and family would agree that I am pretty good at arguing and debating. 

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE WWA? 
I attended my first show in 2019 and joined the Marketing Committee shortly after. 

WHAT IS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT FEW KNOW OR WOULD GUESS? 
I love all kinds of crafting. I taught myself to sew at a young age and every year I have tried to learn something new like crocheting and screen printing.